Debating on Cancelling Trip

[Southernswthrt]

So I pushed back a November trip to January and now it's snuck up on me...we're supposed to leave on Saturday morning! I normally spend hours and hours planning our trips, but I've been so busy the last several months that I can't plan at all! So now do I go on this trip next week or cancel??? I'll lose 1 night's deposit if I cancel after tomorrow

Decisions, decisions...

Can we really have a good time on a last minute trip?

 

[katrina1122]

Of course you should go. Jan is a slower month even with the holiday. Plus you'll just experience Disney different. Go knowing you may not get on every ride, but you might see a show you've never stopped to watch before. Don't worry you don't have adr's, you will find a restaurant open. It's a laid back way to go and I love it.

 

[kastoney]

Of course you can. We typically plan our trips one or two months ahead of time. I don't stress planning and just go where the crowds aren't and open ADRs take us.

 

[Nine]

If you think that taking a trip and winging it and going with the flow sounds like fun- I strongly urge you to do it. Although it's a bit outside of my comfort zone not to plan, I've found that some of my best (and most adventurous) trips came from spontaneity.

Best of luck either way, but count me in on the side of go and have fun.

 

[davkata]

Go!! Definitely go!! If you're worried about FP and ADR, try to make some. If you can't get any you want, go with the flow...Rope drop to ride your favorites and use the mid or later parts of the day to relax around the pool. Sounds like you've had a stressful/busy last few months and a change of pace, planned or not, will do you well!

 

[TeacherDL]

I'm a planner too, but go and have a terrific time!!

 

[VTGirlinNC]

I would definitely go. We did a last minute trip last January and had a blast. We left 2 weeks after booking a flight and I made sure to book a few ADR's just to have some structure to the trip. It gave us the opportunity to try a few restaurants that we had never experienced before, and we also got some great ones due to last minute cancellations (CG, Crystal Palace, etc).

There are plenty of FP available, and you can just rope drop the rides that you are not able to get a FP for in advance.

Have fun!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Have you booked anything? ADRs? Fast Passes? Honestly, I'd go ahead and go. Not having any Fast Passes reserved would be the biggest hurdle, but you can still deal. At each of the parks, except for Hollywood Studio, you can have fun dining experiences with just counter service restaurants. It might even be a more relaxed trip than you are used to do to the lack of structure - just be prepared that you might not get as much done as you have in the past. However, it sounds like if you are too busy to plan a trip to WDW, a relaxing trip might be exactly what you need. Go and have an excellent time.

 

[jesse8931]

Last year because I got the cast member discount on the rooms and free admission we could not get any fast passes until we were in the park and it was fine.

We went feb 1st to the 6th and the longest wait we had was space mountain.

We are going again this year jan 30th to feb 6th and we cant not make any fast pass picks until 7 days so I'm guessing all the good rides will be taken so we will wait in line.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We went the week before the 4th of July with 2 days notice. We bought our tickets at DTD and made our FP+ reservations the night before we went to the parks. We had no trouble getting what we wanted except for 7DMT but it had just opened. We rode it at RD with less than a 30 minute wait. We didn't try for A&E be cause the kids aren't interested in characters.

This trip was one of the best we ever had. We LOVE FP+. It made the trip so much more relaxed. No running to get FP and still rode everything. Usually, I spend 6-12 months planning. I think we'll stick with the spontaneous trips from now on.

 

[IBLarsen]

So I pushed back a November trip to January and now it's snuck up on me...we're supposed to leave on Saturday morning! I normally spend hours and hours planning our trips, but I've been so busy the last several months that I can't plan at all! So now do I go on this trip next week or cancel??? I'll lose 1 night's deposit if I cancel after tomorrow

Decisions, decisions...

Can we really have a good time on a last minute trip?

OP, you've said you usually spend hours and hours planning your trips. I'm assuming you are referring to prior Disney trips? In which case you're familiar with WDW? If so, I would say you already know what you need to know to still have a great time! You can still see if you can grab some FP's, that won't take but 30 min of your time. Go at rope drop and considering it's a slow time I bet you'll still be able to ride anything you want without much of a wait. For dining, there's always quick service. But if there's something you really want for a sit down meal, quickly check to see if you can still grab an ADR. That will only take a few minutes of your time. If not, go with the flow and find something to eat when you're hungry.
We added on 2 days at MK last summer, as a side trip while we were in Tampa. I'm an obsessive planner and did NOT plan this other than booking a hotel for those couple nights, offsite, as MK was not our original plan, we just went and had the best time. Already being familiar with Disney made it super easy. This was before FP+, we made no ADR's, and it was a busy time of year (June).
Go for it and have fun!!

 

[Laketravis]

I'd still go. FP works best when you don't need it, and the days you are looking at going are predicted to range from crowd levels of 1 to 4. It's one of the slowest times of the year.

 

[js]

This would depend on is it just you and dh or is it that you canceled once already with your kids and this will be your second time canceling on them and not because of finances but because you haven't had the time to plan.

 

[emmabelle]

We're leaving Jan 31st and I just added my daughter to the trip, the only FP+'s that I couldn't copy were 7DMT and the Frozen meet and greet. Everything else was available so we'll just try and do 7DMT at rope drop.

 

[DisneyFive]

Go!

It may turn out to be your best yet. No way to know unless you go.

Maybe the spontaneity will turn out to be a blessing. plus, it sounds as though you need a break with how busy you've been.

Dan

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, you've said you usually spend hours and hours planning your trips. I'm assuming you are referring to prior Disney trips? In which case you're familiar with WDW? If so, I would say you already know what you need to know to still have a great time!

Exactly.

We're leaving Jan 31st and I just added my daughter to the trip, the only FP+'s that I couldn't copy were 7DMT and the Frozen meet and greet. Everything else was available so we'll just try and do 7DMT at rope drop.

Try even on the day. I couldn't get anything "big" at MK until the actual day we were there, and then nearly instant Mine Train FPs showed up, etc.

 

[secretsquirrel]

We're arriving on Saturday as well. GO!

FYI: MK has EMH until midnight on Saturday, 1/24. You could probably get some big rides in if you go late. Crowd calendars are 2-4 most days throughout the week. One calendar has a "1" for Wednesday.

I was able to book several ADR this past weekend and had no problem getting what we wanted except for a pre-9 am Crystal Palace.

Forecast calls for low 70s highs and 50s in the evening. Some rainy days.

Again, go! Should be a slow week.

 

[andyman8]

I'd say go! Spend some time making some FP+s now (you'll have a tougher time getting the good rides on the actual day) and see if you can find a couple good ADRs. You don't have to do crazy planning to still have an awesome time.

 

[eliza61]

Go. we are professional wingers and wouldn't have it any other way. like the previous poster mentioned, we have gone to some great restaurants that way.

 

[Southernswthrt]

Thanks for all the feedback. I feel a lot better about it now! I am an AP and like to go at least twice a year but never made it back last year.

I do have a few ADR's for our favorites but I really just want to enjoy time with my daughter. We tend to watch the beauty and the beast show 3 times and ride dumbo and IASW 5 times so not too concerned about FP's. We've met A&E already so not a must do this time.

I have never been in January so eager to see if it's slower than early December.

I have reservations at Poly and considering switching due to construction.